Posted 5 Apr '23

10 amazing things about our feet

Feet, we all just use them. Pretty much all day, every day, without giving them a second thought. Take a seat, put your feet up and take a read of these 10 amazing things about our feet.

1.    Versatile: The foot is capable of a wide range of movements, allowing us to walk, run, jump, climb, and balance on uneven surfaces. It is also capable of fine motor movements, such as playing a musical instrument or typing on a keyboard.

2.    Strong: Despite being relatively small compared to the rest of the body, the foot can bear the weight of the entire body and absorb the shock of every step we take. The foot muscles, tendons, and bones work together to provide stability and support.

3.    Complex: The foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. All of these components work together seamlessly to allow us to move with precision and control.

4.    Mobility: Without our feet, we would be unable to walk or run, making everyday activities much more difficult. The foot allows us to travel long distances, explore new places, and engage in physical activity.

5. Balance and stability: The big toe plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and stability while standing, walking, running, and jumping. When the foot touches the ground, the big toe is responsible for helping to distribute weight evenly across the foot and maintain balance.

6. Propulsion: The arches of the foot play a role in propulsion, helping to store and release energy during walking and running. The arches help transfer energy from the foot to the rest of the body, improving efficiency and reducing the energy required during movement.

7. Grip: The big toe is used for gripping surfaces, such as when climbing or holding onto objects with the feet.

8. Feedback: The big toe provides important feedback to the brain about the position and movement of the foot. This information is used to help maintain balance and adjust movements accordingly.

9. Support: The little toe supports the foot and helps distribute weight evenly across the foot.

10. Shock absorption: The ankle joint helps to absorb shock during activities such as jumping and running, which can help to prevent injuries to the foot, ankle, and lower leg.

As podiatrists, we think feet are extraordinary, we are proud to take care of your feet, keeping you healthy and active. But for your feet’s sake, we would like to encourage you to take care of them. We will always be here to fix any foot condition you have but problems with your feet will be less likely if you do these things.

• Keeping your feet clean and dry

• Exfoliate weekly using a foot file

• Using a foot cream daily to moisturise

• Trimming toenails regularly

• Checking your feet regularly for signs of injury or infection

• Wear clean socks every day

• Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well

• Spray Shoe Fresh in all your footwear

• Daily foot stretch routine

• Seeing a podiatrist if you have foot pain or other foot problems

Investing 10 minutes weekly to take care of your feet might save you from days/weeks of pain that limits your activities or ruins a holiday.

If you are interested in a specific foot problem or preventive care for a specific activity, contact us as we’d love to chat. We have lots more advice that we can share with you. Get in contact. 

“Health is not valued until sickness comes.” – Thomas Fuller

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